Combination electric-light fikture



R. B. BENIAMIN COMBINATION ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED 1ML s, 1919.

1 ,404,732, Patented J an. 3l, 1922.

R. B. BENJAMIN.

CUMBINATION ELECTRIC LIGHT FIXIUHE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-5, ISIS]A 1 ,404,732, Patented Jan. 3l, 1922 R. B. BENJAMIN. COMBINATION ELECTHac LIGHT FIXTURE.

APPLICATION' FHED JAN. 5,1919. 1,404,732.

Patented Jan. 3l 1922.

narran STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

BEUBEN BENJ'AIIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T0 BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COIPLNY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLI- NOIS.

COHBINATION ELECTRIC-LIGHT FIXTURE.

specimen@ n: teiten 2mn. Patented J an. 31, 1922.

Application med January 6, 19:19. lortll lo. 289,759,

To all whomz't may concern.'

Be it known that I Ramses B. BENJAMm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful lm rovements in Combination `llleotric- Fixtures, of which the followin is clear, concise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a combination electric light fixture, and, more particularly, to an electric light fixture equipped with an auxiliary current or circuit-trapping means.

In the operation of electrical appliances, such as flat-irons,- curling-irons, toasters, coffee-percolators, etc., it has heretofore been necessary to operate such apparatus from an ordinary lighting receptacle either d1- rectly without the lamp or with the lamp and a suitable current-tap provided in the lamp-socket. Likewise, it has frequently been the practice to provide Wall receptacles which are to be used for operation of such ap liances exclusively.

t is one of the objects of 4this invention to provivde a` wall fixture fitted with the usual lighting apparatus comprising the ordinary bracket and socket, an( to provide with such wall fixture a neat and eflicient as well as ornately arranged auxiliary socket which may he used for a current-tap for operating electrical household appliances.

Another object resides in eompactly and neatly arranging under the canopy of the fixture the necessary current-terminal apparatus und providing, the necessary facilities for wirini,r the main current leads to the lighting fixture and to the auxiliary current-tap.

A further feature resides in the production of an apparatus of this kind which as a whole presents a Very pleasing appearance and which provides a very convenient and accessible current-tap for household electrical appliances.

Further obects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustration, the preferred form of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the complete apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the plane represented by the line 2 2 looking in the d1rection of the arrows;

Fig. 3 illustrates the relativev position and method of interconnecting main current- `conductors g F1g. 4 is a rear elevation of the base of the fixture;

Fig. 5 is a detail illustrating the means used to cover the opening in the canopy which leads to the current-tap socket;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the plane represented hy 'the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken. on the plane represented by the line T-7 of Fig, 2 looking in the direction. of the arrows;

Fig. 8 shows a bottom plan view of a current tap socket;

Fig. 9 is a. detail view of the intermediate spring of the center Contact of a current-tap socket;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the bracket, the current-tap socket, and the base of the lixture;

Fig. 11 is a. view in side elevation of.' the bracket used with the current-tap socket;

Fig. 1.2 illustrates a side view, partly in section. of an alternate form of combination fixture;

Fig. 13 shows the bracket utilized for the mounting of a current-tap and lighting sockets with this form of fixture;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section of the current-tap receptacle taken. on a plane represented by the line 14-1-1 in Fig. y12. and shows the current-plate terminals utilized to receive the wires feeding the current-tap of the lighting fixture; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical section of the currenttap plug;` receptacle used in connection with the alternate form of fixture shown in Fig. 12.

As illustrated in the preferred form shown inthe drawings, the apparatus is all mounted on a base Q0 which is secured tothe wall 21 by any suitable means. The base 20 is made of insulating material and supportand connecting with said contact springs ed thereon is a three-arm bracket 22 which is secured to the base 20 by means of screws such 23. The forward end of the bracket 22 terminates in a cylindrical collar 24 which is internally threaded, as shown at 25,' to receive the threaded end of a conduit or wire-enclosing cylindrical member. 26 to which is secured the electric lighting ormain socket 27 which carries the electric light globe or bulb 28. The wire-enclosing member 26 is fitted with a bead 30 between which and the collar 24 is ltted the extreme front ond of a canopy 31 which covers and completely encloses the bracket 22, the electrical conductors, the current-tap socket 32, and the other apparatus mounted on the base 20. The current-ta socket 32 is positioned on the angularly-i isposed face 33 of the base 20, the angle of said face being such that the front face ot' the current-tap socket 32 is substantially parallel to that portion of the canopy which covers the front face thereof. The hase 2() is titted with two apertures 34 and 35 through which are fed the main circuit conductors which supply current to the electric light lixtures, these main circuit conductors 3G and 37 being connected to and terminating at the contact terminals 3S and 39 respectively.- The contact terminals 38 and 39 are each provided with two contact screws such as 4t), two of these screws serving to connect the conductors 36 and 37 thereto, and the two other screws serving to connect the conductors 41 and 42 thereto, these conductors 41 and 42 being wired through the conduit 26 to the socket 27 to feed current to the electric light socket. The contact terminals 38 andi39 are normally obscured and covered by insulating disks 38' and 39' respectively, these disks being pivotedly secured to the base 20 by means of eyelet rivets 40 and 41 respectively.

(lonductively secured to the terminal 38 is a conducting bar 43 which is condilctively interconnected by means of the screw 44 to the contact spring 45. nected to the terminal 39 is a conducting bar 46. this bar being in turn conductively connected to the center contact spring 47 by means ot the screw 48. An intermediate center cont-act spring 50 which normally carries no electrical potential is mounted directly above the contact 47. the spring 50 being secured to the base 2t) by means of a screw 51.

The terminal plates 38 and 39 are secured to the base 2U by means of screws 52 and 53, respectively, The conducting bars 43 and 46, clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, are imbedded in the lower surface of the hase 2() and are condor-tively connected to their associated contact springsI and 47, respete tively. by means of the screws 44 and 48, the screws 44 and 4S extending through the base Conductively conthe lugs A63 which are mounted on the front face of the base. i

The auxiliary current-tap socket, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 9 com rises an insulating base 54 in which is tted the screw shell contact 55. The insulating base 54 carries a leaf-spring 56 which is secured to the base 20 by means of screws such as 57 and 58. This leaf-spring suspension of the current-tap socket `serves to hold said socket close to said base 2() under the resilient el'ect of the leaf-spring 56.

Secured to` the bottom of the shell 54 is a metallic late 60 which is conductively connected to theshell 55, the said plate carrying slots 61 and"` 62- and the two projecting prongs 63 and 64.' The leaf-spring 56 may be formed integral with this plate 60. Secured to the base 20 are two brackets such us 65. provided with forwardly-extending hook ortions such as 66 which roject throng the slots 61 and 62 in the p ate 60. The hooks or prongs 66 on the brackets 65 serve to limit the forward movement of the Vcurrent-tap socket and likewise serve to proivide a fulcrum about which said socket pivots when moved out of its normal position upon the insertion of a plug, as hereinafter described.

Normally, the center contact and the shell contact carry no potential, but when a plug is screwed into the shell contact 55 ir the recepatcle 54, the center contact of the a u 1 :lepri-ng 50. When this contact is made, a force will be exerted, upon further screwing in of the plug, which will cause the receptacle to swing or tilt about. the fulcrum provided by the brackets 65, against the ten- 105 sion of the spring 56, thereby causing' theI protruding lugs 63 and 64 of the plate 6() to approach the cross-piece on the terminal contact 45. As the plug is screwed deeper into the socket, the' current-tap receptacle 110 will continue totilt about its fulcrum until cross-piece 65 of the terminal contact 45. and thus connect the plate 60 with one side ot the circuit 45. the conductor bar 43, the terminal plate 38, and the main circuit-lead 36. As the plate 6() is conductively connected to the shell contact 55. this operation will place the potential of contact 55. Likewise. as the plug is screwed home. the intermediate spring 50 will be deflected until it makes contact with the termina] plate 47. thereby connecting the center contact and the termedlate spring 50, the terminal spring 4T. screw 48. conducting har 46, and the terminal plate 39 to the main conductor lead 37.

lironi the preceding description ilfwill 130 and 64 make Contact with the will make contact with the terminal through the terminal Contact the line-lead 36 on the shell 120 plug through the inapparentthat, under normal Iconditions, when the plug' is not in the current-tap socket, the shell and center contacts thereof will be dead. that is, carry no potential; and likewise that when a plug is inserted in said socket and screwed home the receptacle 54 will be tilted to place potential on the shell contact 55. and the, intermediate spring` V50 will be deflected to connect with the terminal spring 47 to connect the line potential to the center contact.of the plug.

An opening in the canopy permits access to the current-tap receptacle. This opening can be ordinarily kept closed in order to make a sightly and pleasing appearance, by a shell 7l snugly fitting inside of the canopy and having the saine contour as the` said canopy; said shell 71 being fitted with protrudil lugs 72, whereby said shell may concentrically with said canopy andmoved to a position to completely close the `opening 70 1n the canopy 31. 4 his is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. In the full line position there shown the hole in the canopy is completel closed, in which position the protruding' ug 72 is moved forward across the opening 70 so as to move the inner shell 71 into a position where the said shell will completely enclose the opening 70. The broken-line position in this figure shows the inner shell 71 in the position in which the current plug receptacle is partly exposed through the opening 70 in the canopy The operation of connecting;` a plug,r to the current-tap socket may now be briefly described as follows: The shell 71 is first moved to a position so as to completely expose the current-tap receptacle through the opening 70 in the canopy. The plug may now be screwed into the threaded shell ofthe receptacle, whereupon the receptacle will be tilted and the intermediate spring 5() depressed so as to connect the threaded shell and the center contact. of the plug with the potential and current-carrying springs connected to the' main circuit-leads 3G and 37, as hereinbefore described. W'hen access to the current-tap receptacle is no longer desired, the plug is removed, the inner shell 7l is moved by means of one of the lugs 72 to a position in which the opening 70 in. the 'canopy is completely covered. thereby cornq pletely ohscuring` the current-tap receptacle and giving a very neat and pleasing appearance to the complete fixture and removing all evidence ot' the current-tap receptacle when it is not in use. v

VIn the alternate form of fixture shown' in Figs. 12 to 15, inclusive. a bracket such as 73 is secured to the wall 74 by means of screws such as 75. The bracket at its forr ward end is fitted with a collar 7G which is internally threaded to receive the threaded end of a conduit 77 in which the wires are carried to the socket of a lighting ,socket u78 and 79 of the bracket .mounting-plate H0 fitted with threaded aperv `connecting said Mounted between thefarms 73 is a circular (not shown) tures 8l and 82 which' accommodate suitable screws for the mounting` ot' the current-tap receptacle 83. Any fornrot' current-tap receptacle may be mounted on the plate 80, and for illustration purposes I have shown a current-tap receptacle of the blade type, in which the plug is inserted and removed by a direct thrust and pull, respectively. This receptacle is shown in cross-section in Fig. 15, the line contact blades thereof beiupr illustrated at 84 and S5, said blades being mounted upon an insnhiting r base H6 and connected by any suitable means to the tex minal Contact plates 8T and 88, respectively. These contact plates each carry two terminal-Screws, such as #il and 90, one of said screws on each ol' said plates being adapted to be connected with one of the service wires 91 or 92. and the other terminal screw on each of said plates being` connected to the conductors 93 and 94 which lead to the lighting fixture.

In wir-ing the fixture. the ciu'rei1t-tap receptacle is. first connected to the leads 91, 92, 9B, and 94, after which the canopy 95 is slipped over the receptacle Hl and then the receptacle is secured in position on the plate 8() by means ot' the screws .lt and 97. The canopy 95 is then placed in position to cover the bracket 73 and the wiring and is permanenti fixed in this position by the tightenin o the set-screw U8 in the ring 99 sel eurer to the canopy D5 on the conduit 77.

It will be evident that the alternate form of fixture shown in Figs. l2 to l5. inclusive, although not as ornate or elaborate as the one illustrated` in Figs. l to ll. inclusive, results in a very simple and efficient structure which may be very cheaply manufactured and in which the current-tap is positioned in a very convenient and accessible location.

Obviouslyl this invention is not limited to the specific embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described. but is capable of many variations within its spirit and scope. as set forth in the ff llowing claims:

I claim as new. and desire to securebv letters patent of the llnited States: u

l. ln a device ot the character described. in combination. an insulatingr mounting hase. a lamp socket and comluctor-cnclosing means 120 associated therewith. means for supporting said conductor-enclosing means on said bracket, a current-tap socket, means for supporting said current-tap socket on said sul porting'l base, electrical connections t'or inter- 125 lamp socket and said current-tap socket to the main circuit, a canopyfor enclosing said supporting: means and said electrical connection. an opening in said canopy to permit access to said cur- 130 tent-tap socket, and means" operable to close the opening in 'said canopy and completely obscure said current-tap socket.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating mounting base, a lamp-socket and conductor-enclosing means associated therewith, means for supporting said conductor-enclosing means on -said mounting base, a current-tap socket,

shell and center contacts in `said currenttap socket, resilient means for supporting said current-tap socket on said Vmounting base, electrical connections for interconnecting saidV lamp socket andsaid current-tap socket with the main circuit, means whereby said current-tap socket is normally disconnected from the main circuit, means whereby said current-tap socket is tilted against the force exerted by its resilient support, when a plug is inserted in said current-tap socket, to connect the shell arid center contacts of said socket with the main line circuit, and a canopy for completely enclosing said mounting and supporting means and said electrical interconnections. i

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a'n insulating supporting base, a socket and current-gonductor enclosing means associated therewith, means to support said conductor-enclosing meanson said base, a `current-tap.socket, resilient means for supporting said currentrtap socket on' said base, shell and center contacts in said current-tap socket, said shell and center contacts normally carrying no otential because of the position assumed y said current-tap socket resulting from the resilient means of support, potential-carrying contacts associated with said current-tap socket, means whereby said socket is tilted when a plug is inserted therein to connect said center and shell contacts with said potentialcarrying contacts, electrical connections for connecting the potential-carrying contacts of the current-tap socket and the main socket with the line conductors, and a canopy for enclosing said conductor-enclosing supporting means and the electrical connections.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating supporting base, a socket and current-conductor enclosing means associated therewith, means to support said conductor-enclosing means on said base, a current-tap socket, resilient means for sup )o1-ting said current-tap socket on said base, s ell and center contacts in said current-tap socket, said shell and center contacts normally carrying no potential because' of the position assumed by said current-tap socket resulting from the resilient means ot' support, potential-carrying contacts associated with said current-tap socket, means whereby said socket is tilted when a plug is inserted therein to connect said center and shell contacts with said potential-carrying contacts, electrical connections for connect A ing the potential-carrying contacts of the current-tap socket and the main socket with the line conductors, an an opening in said 'canopy to permit access to thesaid currenttap socket.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulatin supporting base, a socket and current-con uctor enclosing means 'associated therewith, means to support said conductor-enclosing means on said base, a current-ta socket, resilient means for supporting sai current-tap socket on said base, shell and center contacts in said current-tap socket, said shell and'center contacts normally carrying no potential because of the'position assumed by said current-tap socket resulting from the resilient means of support, otential-carrying contacts associated wit said current-ta socket, means whereb said socket is tilte when a plug is inserte therein' to connect said center and vshell contacts with said potential-carrying.

contacts, electrical connections for connecting the potential-Carr ing contacts of the current-tap socket an the main socket with the line conductors, and a canopy for enclosing said conductor-enclosing supportin means and the electrical connections, an means for closing said opening to completely obscure said current-tap socket.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating supporting base, a bracket secured to said base, a main socket and conductor-enclosing means assoy and said potential-carrying contacts of the current-tap socket with said line-terminals, means whereby when a plug is inserted in said current-ta tilted and the s ell and center contacts thereof will make contact with the potential-carrying contacts, and a canopy for completely 'enclosing said insulating Supporting base,

bracket, and the electrical interconnections.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination, an insulating supporting base, a bracket secured to said base, a main socket and conductor-enclosing means assoclated therewith, means for supporting said conductor-enclosing means 0n said bracket,

socket said socket will be a current-tap socket, resilient means for supportinpr said current-tap socket on said mounting bas said ciirrent-tap socket car-u rying shell and center contacts which normally carry no potential, potential-carryingr contacts associated with said current-tap socket, the resilient `supporting means for Said cu rrenttap socket normally maintaining the shell and center contacts of'said current-tap socket out of contact with said potential-carrying ,`contacts, line-terminals, conductors for connecting said main socket and said potential-carrying contacts of the current-tap socket with said line-terminals, means whereby when a plug is inserted in saidI current-tap socket said socket will be tilted and the shell `and center contacts tbereof will make Contact With the potential-carrying contacts, and a canopy for completely enclosing said insulating supporting base, bracket, and tbc electrical interconnections, sand an opening in said canopy to permit access to said current-tap socket, and means operable to close said opening.;r and completely obscure said current-tap socket.

8. An electrical device comprising a spider-shaped bracket, having a central hub and arms radiating therefrom, a lamp socket. a conduit secured to said socket for the feed wires to the socket, said conduit being screwed into said hub portion, an electrical receptacle, means for supporting said electrical receptacle adjacent said spider, and a canopy for housing said spider and receptacle,

said receptacle having-a portion embraced by the arms of the spider.

9. An electrical device comprising` a lamp socket, a conduit for the iced wires of said socket, secured to said socket, a canopy the axis of said conduit.

10. In a device of the character described.

in combination, an insulating mounting base,

fixture supporting means on said mounting base, a current-tap socket, shell and center contacts in said current-tap socket, resilient means for supporting said current tap socket on said mounting base, electrical connections for interconnecting the fixture and said current-tap socket with the maincircuit, means whereby said current-tap socket is normally disconnected Afrom the main circuit, means whereby said current-tap socket is tilted against the force exerted by its resilient support, when a plug,l is inserted in said current-tap socket, to connect the shell and center contacts of said socket with the main line circuit and a canopy for completely enclosing said mounting and supporting means and said electrical interconnections.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

